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Basic Stategy
What is Basic Stratgey? Well this is the mathematically correct way to play every possible player's hand against every combination of dealer's card. Don't be put off by the seemingly impossible task of memorizing the tables. Most of it is natural thinking. Just try and remember the plays around the edges of the red area. This strategy is correct for U.K rules playing 4 or 6 decks.
The first table (1) shows what to do if your first two cards are the same. Squares in red indicate that you should split, otherwise look at the last table (4) for how to play the non-splits.
 

Table 1. Splitting strategy against dealer's card.
1 Dealer's Card
P
L
A
Y
E
R
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
A
2-2
                   
3-3
                   
6-6
                   
7-7
                   
8-8
                   
9-9
                   
A-A
                   
 
 
  Split
  No
 
 

Table 2. Doubling Down strategy against dealer's card.
 
2 Dealer's Card
P
L
A
Y
E
R
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
A
9
                   
10
                   
11
                   
 
 
  Double
  Don't
 
 

Table 3. Draw and Stand strategy on soft totals.
 
3 Dealer's Card
P
L
A
Y
E
R
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
A
13-17
                   
18
                   
19-20
                   
 
 
  Draw
  Stand
 
 

Table 4. Draw and Stand strategy for hard hands.
 
4 Dealer's Card
P
L
A
Y
E
R
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
A
4-11
                   
12
                   
13-16
                   
19-20
                   
 
 
  Draw
  Stand
 
 
Remember that playing Basic Strategy will not automatically gaurantee your success. It will however give you a better shot at coming out ahead over a long session of Blackjack. To progress beyond this you need to do some reading. GGG advises that improving on Basic Strategy is a very tough thing to do and is more often than not linked with a player losing more than they otherwise would.